Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Gaining Perspective from a Movie



I was feeling a little sorry for myself and in a little bit of a pity party funk. I could see what was going on and I knew I needed to shake myself out of it.

Changing my focus didn't come as easily as I'd liked. I tries quiet meditation - it turned to stewing. I tried active busywork - it was a distraction for a short time. The underlying issue just kept rearing it's ugly head. As I went about the day and began focusing on all that I have to be grateful for the funk eventually worked itself out. I was on my way to a renewed attitude.

It was with this experience that I took in The Pursuit of Happyness.
I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd heard that it was a movie about a homeless guy who became a stock broker. I must say it was a little tough to watch at times. Will Smith's character Chris is working his butt off and trying to be the man he needs to be to support his family. Already I liked him.

But life's not working for him. The money isn't coming in. He's making poor choices. He's conflicted. Then an opportunity for change presents itself. The cost is high. His wife leaves him, he loses his home, and he must struggle to come up with money for the most basic necessities of life while he trains for his possible new job and cares for his young son. His love for his son and his desire to provide him with the father he never had pushes him along on this journey. There is a scene where he is cradling his sleeping son in a subway bathroom while holding the door shut with his foot as someone bangs on it. Tears stream down his face. He would do anything for his son.

Well... my petty problems just slammed into perspective. I have so much to be thankful for -

  • our home complete with furniture, food, clothes and heating in a good neighborhood

  • my immediate family, who is in good health and gets along

  • my extended family, who is near and far (but basically healthy and in good shape)

  • my job, which is a nice fit for my life right now with great people financial freedom, no debt and a contingency fund that can help us through just about any rough patch

  • friends who love me and care about me

  • access to good medical care and healing medications

  • frivolous stuff like TV, quilting, good books, restaurants, reliable cars, etc.

Sometimes a good movie can really put things in perspective.

What r u thankful 4?

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The Goal of Life

Oh how I wish I could "do it all." There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. Perhaps that's because the goal is perfection not enjoyment. Is being the perfect mom, wife, homemaker, employee, blogger really what's important to me? I'm afraid to say that is what my subconscious tells me more often than not. It goes something like this - anything worth doing is worth doing perfectly (or just don't even try). In reality I know that perfection is not attainable. Yet I let its lure rob me of the joy of the moment. I need to stop that.

Recently I've been on a Food Network kick. Watching those shows - like Paula's Party, The Neely's Down Under, Rachel Ray - isn't so much about the food for me. Yes, I'm hoping to pick up a few pointers on cooking, because mine is atrocious. But I really watch them because the people have infectious, happy personalities and really seem to enjoy life.

It would seem to me that the people who have perfection as a goal don't look like they are enjoying life. They are too busy trying to live up to some lofty standard that few, if any, care about. When I think to the end of my days and wonder if I'll be able to hear the chatter at my funeral I don't want to hear people talk about my perfectly clean house or how excellently I sewed stuff or even what great shape I'm in (not). I would hope to hear them say that I was a happy person who enjoyed laughter and enjoyed life. Now that's a goal!

I'm thankful for the freedom to choose what kind of life I'll have.

What r u thankful 4?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

To-Do List



It's so nice to complete a task that has been on my to-do list for a while. It wasn't a have-to-do. It was more of a want-to-do. I have a few Christmas gifts I'd like to make for family members. I just haven't been able to get to the sewing machine. I'm not sure if it's a real time shortage, a plethora of distractions or some sort of sewers block, but I wasn't creating anything new.

I certainly don't lack for projects so that's not the problem. I seem to find time for the mending, but not for the sewing - not for the fun stuff. Only by making myself start the project was I able to get motivated to finish it. It didn't even take very long...only a few hours.

That perfectionist in me wants to have everything I make turn out perfectly. My inner realist tells me to forget perfection and shoot for completion. As I sewed I realized that it's about neither perfection nor completion, but it's about enjoyment.

Sewing is what I enjoy. I tend to put it off until all the work is done. But life keeps whizzing by and I keep working and the enjoyment (sewing) keeps getting postponed indefinitely. Sometimes for me the tough choice is the decision to play - to let the floor stay dirty, leave the laundry in the basket, let the bills sit and focus on something that is just for me. It's funny how playing hooky from daily responsibilities feels so indulgent, even if it's only for a morning. But that's what I did - indulge, play hooky, sew, and make a Christmas gift. Yeah!

I'm thankful that I have the ability and freedom to exercise my passions. God has made me a creative being and given me the resources to explore that creativity. Sewing needs to make it on my to-do list more often.

Want to see what I made?



What r u thankful 4?

Monday, November 10, 2008

Gratification



I attended a wedding recently. After the wedding there was a lovely reception complete with cake and dancing. But mostly there was a lot of time. A couple hundred guests attended - some I knew, many I didn't. I've known a small group of people there for about 30 years and I'm not that old!

As I was mixing and mingling I ran into a gal from my church who also happened to be a Sunday School teacher for my kids back when they were in Kindergarten. She was coming at me with focus in her eyes. She needed to tell me something...something important.

It seems that in the church service a few weeks back she spied my son being chivalrous and was so impressed that she felt compelled to share all the details with me. It went something like this -

There was an older woman in sitting in service near the back of the auditorium. She sensed that the service was coming to a close and arose to leave, walker in hand. As she neared the door to exit, my son was waiting to hold the door open for her. He smiled and wished her well before as she departed and then went back to his seat unaware that he was being watched. The onlooking Sunday School teacher was so impressed that an 18-year-old had been paying attention as well as actually made a move to help the older woman.

I think she had a few reasons for telling me about this incident. You see she is the mother of 5 children, four of which are boys, who are all grown up now. She understands that for a boy to attend to the need of another he has to be trained in sensitivity and manners. She remembers my son as being a high energy kid with a big heart. She was pleased to see that energy had channelled itself into productive behaviour. I'm sure she also remembers how nice it was to hear good reports about her boys and wanted to be the bearer of one of those reports to another mother. I don't think a mother ever tires of hearing such tales about her child.

As I listened my sense of pride in my son grew exponentially. He's a good kid (now actually a young adult) and other people think so too. Wikipedia says that gratification is the positive emotional response of happiness in response to a fulfillment of a desire. And what mother doesn't desire to have her child grow up to be this kind of adult?

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Vote

This is the day that will change the world...or at least the United States of America. That's what I'm hearing today as I listen to and watch the news.



I voted by mail last week to avoid waiting in line, but I don't think it worked. I will be accompanying my oldest child to the polling place. He is soooo excited to be a part of this historic election.

He has done the research and made his choices. He is proud to be a voter this year and finds this whole business very exciting. It's fun to see his enthusiasm. And you can bet he'll be watching the news...Fox news most likely, to see the outcome. It's good to be reminded about the specialness of this privilege. We really do live in a great country!

What r u thankful for?

Monday, November 3, 2008

Discovery



The world is full of things that I don't know about. Okay, maybe I know about some of those things, but I don't get how they work. That was the case with Facebook. I've had a Facebook account for over a year now. I got it as part part of a research project for work. It was interesting, but I really didn't see the appeal and found it to be less than exciting.

That all changed with a chance encounter with an old acquaintance. I don't even know Kathy that well, but we run in the same circles. She was telling me about the wonderful experience she had with Facebook and raving about how much fun it was to find friends. Her enthusiasm was contagious and I just had to go check it out again.



That was three days ago. I can hardly rip myself away from the computer. I'm having so much fun making friends. I've found some old school chums, some people from my early married days and a whole bunch of people from that circle of friends mentioned above.

Facebook is the MySpace of my generation. There's not a lot of tricking out of Facebook pages. These people work for a living. But there are lots of pictures of kids and grand kids. It's so much fun to catch up or just be reminded of things I knew but had been tucked back in the recesses of my brain.

Now if I can just rip myself away long enough to have a life I'll have something to write about on Facebook.

I'm thankful for Facebook and friends. What r u thankful 4?

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Baby Steps

Procrastination. Fear. Reluctance.Caution. It could be any of these that is slowing me down. You see I have this project. It's a Halloween costume. Sure, yeah, who isn't making a Halloween costume this week? Yes, but I started this costume back in August. I should be done by now. Actually I should have been finished a while ago.

There are three parts to the costume - a dress, a skirt and a corset. You guessed it - a pirate. I'm not going to be a pirate. This is the costume my daughter has been eyeing for months. Granted, she's not four years old, so I can't just slap it together. No...it has to "authentic," which means it takes a lot more work.

I've been sewing most of my life and have tackled many of the challenges of garment construction. Along with the successful completion of many garments I've also done my fair share of "un-sewing," otherwise known as ripping out - a disgusting term. But in this costume, I've stumbled on a job that must be done well the first time. I'll have ten opportunities for success here. Ten cute little brass grommets. How hard can it be, right?

Well, all it takes is one slip and the corset is a goner. These things aren't forgiving. So, I'm going at it very methodically. First - make a small sample with the same fabrics as the original item. Next - buy the grommets (lots of grommets - extras for all the testing). Going on - try out the tools. Moving along - make various test placements, try various threading materials, call the mother-in-law for advice, pray, deep breathing exercises.

You get the idea. This is stall time. Or is it? I like to think of it as baby steps. As I progress on this path I'm learning and gaining confidence, so that I can make my final approach with a reasonable assurance of success. I'm taking baby steps.

I'm thankful for the ability to sew - first learned in Jr. High with Mrs. Smith oh so many years ago. I'm also thankful that I can show love to my daughter in a tangible way that any teenage girl can appreciate - a Halloween costume.

What r u thankful 4?

Monday, October 20, 2008

Starry Nights



At least I think that's the name of this quilt -



Since I started this quilt about 6 or 7 years ago, I'm not really sure. I can remember the class I took through my local guild to get this started. It was with Sharyn Craig, who was an excellent, no-nonense teacher.

It took a long time to get this quilt finished because I took a quilting hiatus of sorts - not so much on purpose, but quite by accident. I just sort of let quilting fade into the background of my life to the extent that I just forgot about it, except for the times I lamented that I didn't have time to get to it. A cunundrum to be sure. At the beginning to the year I determined to make (not find) the time to pursue one of things I enjoy most. And this quilt is the result of that effort.

No one I showed it to really liked it or thought it was all that attractive, except for one of my daughter's friends. She complimented me on the colors and thought it was pretty. This was great news since I had no idea what I was going to do with it once it was finished. I surely couldn't display a quilt in my home that everyone in the family thought disgusting. It became apparent who the recipient would be. And I dont' think it's a coincidence that I finished it in her birthday month.

I'm thankful for time to quilt. What r u thankful 4?

Friday, October 17, 2008

A Good Book

Recently I finished reading The Frugal Duchess by Sharon Harvey Rosenberg.


Since I've been a reader of Sharon's Blog, The Frugal Duchess of South Beach, for quite a while I was excited to hear that she came out with a book. Sharon has a down-to-earth approach to saving money. But she's not just another penny-pinching mama.

This gal has style and tells some great stories. I especially liked reading about her personal life and growing up years. It was fun to see how those things shaped her and helped make her into the person she is today.

Sharon also tells of her dream home in Miami Beach, Florida. She doesn't actually own the home, but she just might some day. Since she practices what she preaches I'm betting her savings account is steadily gr owning into the down payment she needs.

This book is chock full of great tips and strategies for saving money. This is practical frugality at it's best. I didn't get the sense that Sharon feels deprived at all. Quite the contrary. This is a gal who appreciates luxury and knows quality when she sees it. She's found ways to have those things and save a few bucks too - hence the subtitle How to Live Well and Save Money.

I'm thankful for good books that are also great resources.

What r u thankful 4?

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Need a fast, tasty snack?



Enter Cake Mix Cookies.



I first heard about these cookies from Mary Hunt in her Everyday Cheapskate column. These are simply the easiest, tastiest, fastest cookies you can make. There are only 4 ingredients needed.



I recently stocked up on cake mix when it was on sale for .50 a box. The chocolate chips in this photo were purchased during a recent sale. I usually keep the supersize bag of chips from Costco on hand, but had recently run out. So not only are these cookies quick, they are relatively inexpensive as well.


When the kids signed up for goodies and I didn't know until an hour before the event, I (or they) can just whip up a batch of these cookies and they're good to go. Click here for the recipe.

What am I thankful for? Hmmm...I wonder!:-)

What r u thankful 4?

Friday, October 3, 2008

The Mortgage Lifter

Now that's an interesting name for a tomato!


I couldn't help but wonder about the story behind the name. Enter Google The story goes like this...

Back in the 40's a man named Radiator Charlie decided to do some fancy cross pollinating of his favorite tomato plants using a baby syringe. He came up with a pretty snazzy tomato - big and tasty.

Okay - so there's something to be said for ingenuity and the farmer's spirit. But the story doesn't end there. What makes it the Mortgage Lifter is that ol' Charlie is a heck of a salesperson and peddled the seedlings to other eager gardeners for a tidy little sum, allowing him to pay off his mortgage of about $6,000.

This is what my plant is supposed to yield -



I'm looking forward to some pretty tasty BLTs in a few weeks.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Traditions


Every year about this time our family takes a trip to Oak Glen. This is the apple mecca of our local area. Small farms sell their tasty harvest at slightly inflated prices. Last year's trip wasn't so pleasant due to an overwhelming large number of apple-loving folk so the husband and son swore they wouldn't be attending this year. That's okay. We adopted one of my daughter's friends for the day and headed off without the guys.



Sometimes we pick our own apples. This year we picked our own raspberries...and bought the apples already bagged up. We picked up some cider and gifts and, of course, an apple pie. But unfortunately that was for someone else.

Upon the recommendation of our adopted child we purchased a slice of apple pie ala mode with cinnamon sauce at Law's Oak Glen Coffee Shop to enjoy before heading home. And enjoy we did. It was one of the best pieces of apple pie I've ever had. Yum! So, as in years past, we concluded our annual tradition of going to Oak Glen.

What's the value in traditions? They are an anchor in a family's history. Something to look forward to. Something to remember. The single events blend together to become a fond remembrance of time together enjoying each other's company and just plain having a good time. They don't have to be exactly the same way every time. Things change. People change. It's the essence of the tradition that counts. This one is about apples and Oak Glen. All the other details are irrelevant. Once again that tradition has been celebrated...until next year.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

My Back Porch



Sometimes it's just nice to sit in the yard and enjoy the flora and fauna. It's amazing how easy it is to take for granted the fact that I have a little plot of land where I can do just about anything I want.



My husband and I both enjoy sitting on the back porch and watching the hummers come for a little snack. They are fun to watch as their tiny wings flutter at super-speed. They hover and fight off other hummingbirds who want some of their juice. I hear that hummingbirds are territorial. If the birds in our yard are any indicator, this is true and they don't like to share...at all. Their squeaky chirps ward off the competition and make it known whose feeder this is. This is some pretty good entertainment. Live and free. Who could ask for more?!

What r u thankful 4?

Thursday, September 11, 2008

A Favorite Song



You're Gonna Miss This




A great reminder to appreciate what you have...now!

Monday, September 8, 2008

What Choice Do I Have?




Choice consists of the mental process of thinking involved with the process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them for action. Some simple examples include deciding whether to get up in the morning or go back to sleep, or selecting a given route for a journey.

That is the Wikipedia definition of choice. Wow – there’s a lot more involved in making a choice than I thought. Thinking. Judging. Options. Selection. Phew. It makes me tired just reading those works. But really, it’s all good. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but think of the freedom that choice brings. We’re not prisoners of our lives. We can have a different life by simply making a different choice.

Sure, circumstances are part of the equation, but it’s how I react to circumstances that really determines what kind of day I’ll have. I could choose to let my blood pressure rise and use creative hand gestures when that little red Mazda zips in front of me. Or I can choose to move along and be thankful that I have a car that can travel on the freeway to the job I have that pays me pretty good money which allows me to buy groceries, gas, and some of life’s other necessities (like chocolate and fabric). Hmmm – I think I’ll go with number 2.

When life gets us down and we’re feeling trapped we need to remember that we have a choice. In fact, we often have several choices or, as Wikipedia says, multiple options. Sometimes we simply need to be open to that fact and engage in the “mental process of thinking” and remind ourselves of all the possibilities we could choose from. Just being open to alternatives is a good place to start. We may need to consider that the opposite of what we are doing or feeling is a viable and possibly even preferable choice.

It’s easy to forget that we have a choice and to assume that this is the way things are and we can’t do anything about them. But we aren’t powerless. We can choose to be cranky or good humored, optimistic or pessimistic, complain or be thankful.

What r u thankful 4?

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Life is good...



when your daughter learns to cook, especially when it's flan.



And it was some yummy flan, too! I wonder what she'll make next week. Cheesecake, maybe?

What r u thankful 4?

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Thankful, Naturally



Being a positive person doesn't come naturally to me. I tend to automatically focus on the things in life that don't measure up. Here's how Merriam Webster defines automatic -

largely or wholly involuntary; especially : reflex 5 b: acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously c: done or produced as if by machine : mechanical

That's me...spontaneously, unconsciously, involuntarily focusing on the most minute of imperfections - like a dang machine. While this might be my natural inclination, I don't have to settle for this characteristic.

I have control over my mind and I can make the choice to change my focus. For now it requires concentration and conscious effort. It may even take a quiet internal conversation with myself to get the right perspective, but it can be done. I can choose to accentuate the positive and appreciate the beauty, blessings and bounty of my life.

And someday maybe my automatic response will be celebrating the good, the right, the positive in life...automatically, naturally!

What r u thankful 4?

Sunday, August 24, 2008

A Pretty Quilt...




...and it's mine. Well actually, it's my daughter's now. It is a Quilt in a Day pattern by Eleanor Burns called Garden Lattice. It took slightly longer than a day to complete...more like a year, give or take. I tried my hand at free motion quilting. There is a flower in each of the squares. The stitching doesn't show in this picture, which is a bummer. But it turned out pretty nicely.

I'm thankful for time (and money) to quilt.

What r u thankful 4?

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Finished



Not only did I make some new pals at the quilt retreat, but I finished a quilt top that I've had around in pieces since 2000. Phew - that was nice to go done.

I also complete this little project (from start to finish) on that retreat -



It was so nice to have long uninterupted times to just sew, sew, sew. The location - Cambria Pines Lodge - was beautiful as well.




There were beautiful gardens on the property, separated by cute little gates. The flora and fauna was unique and glorious. It was a wonderful spot.



Monday, August 4, 2008

Friends


If it weren't for friends life would be pretty boring. There are different types of friends. There is the best friend. This is the friend that you can spill your heart to and she'll listen for hours if that's what you need. She's insightful and patient. She'll be there tomorrow and ten years from now. She's rock-solid. She's your best friend and you're hers.

There are buddies. These are the friends that you connect with regularly. Being one of the girls is what this group is about. Chit-chat and catching up are what you do when you get together. The commitment level is minimal and there's an understanding that sometimes life just gets in the way. Grace is extended for those times and then you carry on.

Groupies are those people who have a common interest. These friends aren't necessarily close, but they like to do the same things and they are fun to be around because they are passionate about the same things you're passionate about. A close bond may or may not form...and that's okay.

Casual acquaintances. These are the people who come in and out of your life, but who don't have a connection of any depth. The neighbor that you talk to occasionally, the man at the dry cleaners, the people at church that you see every week and greet with a hello.

It's nice to have all kinds of friends. This week I'm at a quilt retreat making new friends. I'm having a blast - sewing, eating, laughing and getting to know each other. It's not a bad way to spend a week.

What r u thankful 4?

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Questions to Consider


I receive Mark Sanborn's email newsletter called Leadership Lessons. The most recent issue was especially insightful. It was titled Live Like Your Life Depends On It. There were many good points, but the checklist below stood out to me.

Checklist for a Successful Day

Did I tell or show someone that I loved them?
Did I compliment or praise someone I live or work with today?
Did I read a book or listen to a tape that stimulated my thinking?
Did I increase my skill in my profession?
Did I do something for good health?
Am I closer to my goals than when I woke up this morning?
Did I do anything tough or challenging to build discipline?
Did I do something just for the pure joy of it?
Have I taken time to reflect on the lessons of the day?
Have I planned for another successful day tomorrow?
If you can answer yes to most of these questions, you have created a day of uncommon success.

I agree.

What r u thankful 4?

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Quilt Show


I enjoyed a wonderful day with my mother-in-law at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach.


It was fun to see all the different ways people define quilting. There were some quilts that were on display that weren't even quilted, much less pieced. Traditional style quilts were in the minority, but the ones that were there were spectactular with their fine hand quilting and wonderful use of color.

Shopping...oh yes, lots of shopping! I showed much restraint and didn't buy a stitch of fabric. I made only two purchases. One was an open-toe foot for my sewing machine so I can do machine applique and the other was a video and toothbrush needle from Aunt Philly's. What does one do with a toothbrush needle, you ask. She makes rag rugs, of course. They look like this...

I'm thankful for this day of fun and shopping and for the opportunity to appreciate the talents and perspectives of others.

What r u thankful 4?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The Internet


Don't you just love the Internet? Where else can you find the price of a TV, a recipe for dinner, book a flight, find a quilt pattern and check out the weather? I'm amazed on a daily basis that we have all these resources at our fingertips.

I'm even more amazed when I learn that family members and friends don't spend nearly as much time as I do surfing it's glorious pages. What's wrong with them?! I guess that they don't they realize that they too could escape and lose hours to its magnetic pull. Or perhaps they do and they just have more discipline. More likely the case.

I'm still thankful for this wonderful tool. A few days ago I had a computer death scare. My computer wouldn't start up. I tried 6 or 7 times and Windows just wouldn't start. I almost went into shock at the thought of not having access to the Internet until the new computer was purchased, unpacked and booted up. It was enough to give a girl palpitations.

But...wait...it was just a scare - a false alarm. My computer wouldn't boot up because I had left a thumb drive in the usb port and it was confused about where to get it's start up information. Once I removed the thumb drive, it started up just fine. Visions of a new computer fled from my brain. I was flooded with relief. I can't afford a new computer. What was I thinking?

Not only was I relieved about not buying a new computer I didn't have to waited an unnecessarily long time to get back to the Internet. Whew! That was a close call. I knew I could make it, but it wouldn't have been pretty.

Am I thankful for the Internet? You bet I am.

What r u thankful 4?

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Flourish


I'm not just a survivor ... I'm a flourisher.
Mary Tyler Moore on Entertainment Tonight

I don't know what hand life has dealt Ms. Moore, but I do appreciate her attitude and the grace with which she seems to live her life.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

A New TV

The eyeballs of those over 40 in our household have progressively (and quickly) gotten worse in the focusing department. That was the main motivation for taking the plunge into HD TV. After much research and many questions to sales people we made the decision to go with the Samsung 40" 1080p 120 htz LCD.

Wow! It's huge. I don't even have to squint to see the words on the screen. I think I'm going to have to get a college degree to effectively use the remote control. Too many buttons for me. But I'm not complaining - I just won't use the buttons I don't understand, which is most of them. Other than volume and channel up and down buttons what else does a girl need?

What R U thankful 4?

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Calling Dad



Why is it we put off things that we want to do and know we should do? That ugly old vice procrastination rears its head and days turn into weeks. I sure wish I understood why that happens.

I enjoy chatting with Dad on the phone and we even connect up on IM occasionally. That usually doesn't last long as Dad's typing skills don't allow for rapid-fire IMing and I'm usually on IM at work (not a good place to catch up with the family). Email sort of works. It just seems like there are always huge gaps between emails and continuity is lost. A phone call is really the best way to stay connected.

I've thought about scheduling in phone calls. But thinking is as far as it gets. I even try to manipulate myself into seeing the importance by playing mind games like asking myself..."How awful would I feel if I got a call that something horrible had happened to Dad and I hadn't heeded the numerous urges to call him that I've had over the last few days and weeks?"

My conclusion - the best way to take of this problem is to just make the call - even if I'm late getting home, I have to make dinner and I promised to take the Daughter shopping. Heck, I can multitask, right? So I did it. And I'm thankful I did. It's a time between both our birthdays so birthday wishes were shared. We caught up on each other and the rest of our respective families. We even shared a couple of chuckles. It only took about 15 minutes and cost maybe two bucks.

So...what was I waiting for?

Monday, July 7, 2008

A Generous Employer

The company my husband works for has been very good to him. They pay him well and allow him many opportunities for growth. They value his input and have encouraged him to expand his skills.

He enjoys the people he works with and, while the days are sometimes long, for the most part he likes his job. It's nice that he likes it because it makes the 30-45 minute commute (one way) it little easier to bear.

The company's fiscal year just ended. Today I'm thankful for the gift they gave him in lieu of a bonus. It was a liberal contribution to our income that we won't take for granted.

What are you thankful for?

Sunday, July 6, 2008

I'm Thankful
for My Church of 30 Years

I became a believer at this church and have been there ever since, never once veering away. Today is a special day in the life the of the church - it's our new pastor's first day.

I'm looking forward to attending service with my husband and children. We have been in service together in a long, long time. Not because we haven't been on the premises, but because we have been otherwise obligated. Our children's pastor gave us the day off today so we could all be there to support the new pastor.

Usually I'm in the children's service directing things in the audio-visual booth. I enjoy this job and enjoy spending time with the others who share the space with me. However, there are times when I long to be in service singing with the congregation, learning, being challenged and worshiping God.

So...today is a good day.

What are you thankful for?

Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy 234th America!
Looking Good

Once again it's time to celebrate the birth of our nation.

How better to celebrate than to take the day off to reflect on what a great nation this is? I think it watching the history channel all day might be a good way to remember what makes America special.

Though some in my family are, I'm not a big history buff. I must have slept through History class in school, because I only know about 5% of the stuff my kids have learned in school. Or perhaps time has taken it's toll and I learned it all, but just forgot. Either way...it's time to pause and reflect. So that's what I'll do today.

What are you thankful for?

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Quilting Time


Last night I finished the top of a quilt I started about 6 years ago. Pictures to come after I get it quilted and finished.

Now it's off to a new quilt - the fan quilt using Quiltsmart printed interfacing. Here's what I have so far.



I'm thankful for time to quilt.

What are you thankful for?